Carson took her into his arms. “Never, baby. This is real. What did you get?”
She held up the book. “It’s Myles the lion’s story that Willow painted.”
I stepped forward with Gabe. “I sketched and colored the mural. Gabe thought it would be neat to have it bound in a book Myles could keep forever. We had a few extra copies printed that are at the house.”
From each side, my two dear friends engulfed me in a hug while whispering their thank-yous. “Check out the bathroom.”
Like children on Christmas morning, they scampered to the bathroom. I was overjoyed with what this meant to them as it meant the same to me. Gabe’s hand settled on my back and he rubbed it knowing it got sore from time to time.
Carson flipped the lights on as they walked in. Myles the lion had another story in the bathroom. It talked about brushing his teeth and staying clean after he got dirty. I figured any incentive would help the little one. Gabe’s arms wrapped around my stomach while they read more of Myles’s adventures. “Pretty soon you’re not going to be able to wrap your arms around me.”
“I think I’ll manage. You tired?”
The babies moved as he touched me, eliciting feelings of desire. Even in this state, I craved Gabe multiple times a day. While we were joined, we were truly one with no beginning or end… simply together.
“Very. But I think I can manage sex, ice cream, and a foot massage. Maybe ice cream first.”
Gently, he spun me around. “I bet I could change your mind.”
“I know for certain you could. And I hope you do.”
Eight and a half months pregnant
Our babies were officially full-term. Due to my smaller frame, the doctors suggested a C-section, which we agreed was the best option.
I stood in the nursery and ran my hands along the quilt on the front of one of the cribs. On the blanket, Mildred embroidered half of the willow tree. On the other was the other half of the tree—two halves making a whole… like Gabe and me.
One of the babies kicked. At this point I was ready to serve the eviction notice. I massaged my lower back and shifted as I took the room in one last time before we left.
Warmth filled me. It was more than I ever expected. In a couple of days I would be back here with them in this very room. We were ready to be parents.
Dad’s series of three paintings of the willow tree hung between the cribs. Behind them, on the wall, I expanded the painting to cover the entire wall to appear three dimensional as if the cribs sat underneath the boughs of the tree. Within the branches, words of wisdom and love wove throughout.
In the play corner, the wall had been covered with chalkboard paint for the kids to draw on when they got older. A monkey sat on a swing with a marker in hand. Above his head a quote was written:
Over the changing table, birds carried a ribbon with a quote as they flew toward the window:
The entire room had similar designs creating the perfect magical forest for my children. I hoped this allowed their imaginations to flow and believe anything was possible.
Little kicks fluttered inside. “Soon, little ones.”
Something changed in the air and I sensed my other half near. I turned and found Gabe leaning against the doorframe with a content smile on his face. “You are absolutely breathtaking.”
“And large.” Laughing, I walked to him and gave him a kiss.
“No, you’re pregnant. I’m going to miss you carrying our kids.”
My hand touched where they kicked. “I’ll be glad to not waddle, but I’ll miss not having them with me all the time.”
The sense of loss would be weird. For almost nine months I’d kept them safe.
Gabe checked his phone. “Trent texted and said he landed.”
“Good. He sent me a text last night before he took off, excited about meeting his godchildren.”
A month ago we asked Trent to be a godfather to our children as well. He had been overcome with emotion for a moment and not able to speak. The honor helped fill a missing piece Trent longed for… a family. I knew it, but after his tragic past, the thought of happiness scared him.
Everything else was set. Our family would be at the hospital this afternoon after we had our time to be a family.
It was time.
“Are you ready?”
“More than ever.”
I came to and blinked away the haze. The spinal block hadn’t worked, so I had to be put under. My babies. Where were my babies?
Groggily, my eyes searched around me. Gabe sat beside me with a pink blanket in one arm and a blue one in the other. A boy and a girl.
“Gabe—” My voice caught.
He moved closer to me. “You did fantastic, sweetheart.”
“Are they okay?”
“They’re perfect. The most perfect little babies in the world.”
I hated I hadn’t been there for the moment they entered the world, but we were all safe and sound. That above all mattered most.
The nurse adjusted my gown. I hadn’t realized she was here. “Let’s put them skin on skin.”
“Yes.” Birthing class taught us about the importance. I helped her.
The bed moved up into a sitting position. Our little girl cooed.
“Gabe, they talked.”
“They’re ready to meet their mother.”
Unwrapped from the blanket, my little boy cried in protest until he felt the heat of me. Immediately, he settled. Love at first sight was a poor description for what I felt. Truly indescribable. Little eyes in an adorable scrunchy face meet my stare.
“Hey there my sweet little boy. I’ve been waiting to meet you.” His big eyes closed contentedly. “I love you.”
“Meet your daughter, sweetheart.”
The nurse placed my sleeping baby girl in my other arm. I brushed my thumb against her leg. Any worry subsided with them in my arms. “I never want this moment to end.”
Gabe traced my cheek. “Me, either. Happiest day of my life.”
For a moment, we stared at our little blessings.
“You want to try to nurse, Mrs. Thompson?” the nurse in blue scrubs asked.
“More than anything.”
On the side of the bed, Gabe watched intently while the nurse helped position each baby for nursing in my arms. The little boy latched on first with almost no help. “He has a perfect latch. Okay, let’s get the little girl going.”
A little cry left her lips as she searched for me. The nurse helped position her head and she latched on easily, too.
“Oh, she’s good, too. How are you feeling?”
“Never better. This is a magical moment.”
And it was—having the two babies I’d created with me in my arms. The nurse stepped back. “I’m going to give you some time. If you need me, hit the buzzer. I’ll check on you in about thirty minutes.”
“Thank you.”
“Thank you, Gabe. You came back for me and gave me all this.” My emotions flowed over.
“I will always keep my promise to you. Do you remember when I took you to the tree right before I was deployed?”
The memory of lying under the tree and dreaming of a future together flashed through my mind. “Yes.”
“I said… I’ll make you my wife. We’ll have a little girl and a little boy. That will be my perfect world.”
I nodded remembering the words but not able to speak.
“You’ve now made my life complete. I have it all right here in this room.”
Tears brimmed over. At one time, I never thought this day would come. And now I had my happy ever after.
“Which baby was born first?”
“Our little girl.”
The pride was evident on Gabe’s face. “No one knows our son’s name yet. Our family is in the waiting room. No one has seen either baby. I wanted you to be the first.” He leaned down and kissed me.
“You truly are an amazing man. What’s his name?”
“Antonio Lorenzo Thompson.”
I closed my eyes. This moment in time was perfect. One of those to freeze for all eternity in the box of memories. “You named him after Nonno and Dad. Thank you.”
“Two men who helped you become the amazing person you are.”
Dad would have been so proud. The little boy nuzzled a little closer. “Nonno is going to be ecstatic he finally has an heir with an Italian name.”
Throughout the pregnancy, Nonno dropped hints about Italian names. We had random names on cards popping up all over our house. He tried everything in the book to get us to reveal our names, but we held strong. I loved him so much.
“What are you naming our little girl?” Gabe’s finger stroked her cheek. He was as helplessly in love with her as me.
Throughout the entire pregnancy, I hadn’t been able to decide on a name. I knew Gabe had decided on a girl’s name first. Last week, I decided if I had one of each it was meant to be for him to name them both. “I want to use your name for the girl.”